Chicken Basil Pasta

Name: Chicken Basil Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 360 g Rotini pasta; 450 g Chicken tenderloins; 150 g Yellow onion; 12 g Garlic cloves; 25 g Basil, fresh; 400 g Tomatoes, diced; 40 g Sun-dried tomatoes, dried; 5 ml Nonstick cooking spray; 2 g Ground black pepper; 40 g Parmesan cheese; 3000 ml Water; 10 g Salt

Chicken Basil Pasta · ready in 35 min · 4 servings · 520 kcal per serving · easy · 12 ingredients

Tender chicken and rotini pasta are tossed in a light tomato sauce with fragrant basil, mellow onion, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes for a comforting yet fresh meal that comes together quickly.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 35 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 520
Difficulty: easy

Italian American Main dishes High-protein (25 g+)

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

360 gRotini pasta
450 gChicken tenderloins
150 gYellow onion
12 gGarlic cloves
25 gBasil, fresh
400 gTomatoes, diced
40 gSun-dried tomatoes, dried
5 mlNonstick cooking spray
2 gGround black pepper (optional)
40 gParmesan cheese (optional)
3000 mlWater
10 gSalt

Equipment

stovetop, chef knife, colander, cutting board, pot, serving spoon, skillet, wooden spoon

Instructions

Prep ingredients
Gather all ingredients, chop the yellow onion, mince the garlic cloves, roughly chop the fresh basil, and set out a large skillet, pot, and colander. · 5 min
What to look for: surface shimmering
Heat skillet
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat the surface lightly with nonstick cooking spray. · 2 min
What to look for: skillet is warm and lightly coated
Cook pasta
Cook the rotini pasta in boiling salted water until tender, then drain well and set aside. · 10 min
What to look for: pasta is tender but not mushy
Sauté aromatics
Add the chopped yellow onion and minced garlic cloves to the skillet and stir over medium heat until fragrant. · 1 min
What to look for: onion looks glossy and smells fragrant
Cook chicken
Add the chicken tenderloins to the skillet, season with ground pepper, and stir until the chicken is mostly cooked through. · 5 min
When it is done: Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F.
Add tomatoes basil
Stir the diced tomatoes and half of the fresh basil into the skillet with the chicken. · 3 min
What to look for: sauce looks juicy and starts to bubble
Simmer sauce
Simmer the mixture gently until the basil wilts and the flavors blend. · 2 min
What to look for: basil is wilted and sauce slightly thickened
Finish sauce
Add the sun-dried tomatoes and remaining basil, then simmer briefly to soften the tomatoes. · 2 min
What to look for: sun-dried tomatoes look plump
Serve pasta
Spoon the chicken and tomato sauce over the cooked rotini pasta, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese, and serve warm. · 1 min
What to look for: pasta is well coated with sauce

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	520
Protein	36 g
Carbohydrates	58 g
of which sugars	8 g
Fat	14 g
of which saturated	4 g
Fibre	5 g
Sodium	640 mg

Nutri-ScoreC

Allergens

Contains: gluten, milk

May contain: gluten, milk

Storage and reheating

Fridge: up to 3 days
Freezer: yes, up to 2 months

Ingredient substitutions

Rotini pasta

Penne pasta: Holds sauce well and cooks at a similar time
Whole wheat pasta: Adds fiber and a nuttier taste

Chicken tenderloins

Boneless chicken breast: Slice thinly for even cooking
Turkey breast: Cooks quickly, watch for dryness

Yellow onion

White onion: Slightly sharper flavor
Shallots: Sweeter and milder

Garlic cloves

Garlic paste: Stir in gently to avoid burning
Granulated garlic: Less aromatic than fresh

Basil

Dried basil: Add earlier to bloom flavor
Parsley: Fresher but less aromatic

Tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes: Creates a saucier dish
Fresh chopped tomatoes: Seed for less liquid